Packaging system

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a packaging system for foodstuffs, having a container extending from a container base via a container casing, which itself extends around a container axis and preferably widens approximately in the manner of a truncated cone-shape, in the direction towards an upper container edge which extends around a container opening, and having a chamber containing the foodstuff, wherein the chamber has a chamber casing extending from the upper container edge in the direction towards the container base, disposed within the container casing and at least over apart of the axial chamber height at a radial distance from the container casing and extending around the container axis, and has a chamber base preferably disposed at an axial distance above the container base.

The invention relates to a packaging system for edibles having a container, which extends, starting at a container bottom, via a container jacket encircling a container axis and preferably widening, approximately in the form of a truncated cone sheath, in the direction of an upper container rim encircling a container opening and a chamber containing the edible.

Such packaging systems are for example used for packaging liquid and/or pasty edibles, in particular dairy products. In this arrangement, the chamber containing the edible is typically delimited by the container jacket and the container bottom.

In DT 25 34 748 A1, a modular packaging system is specified, in which, in addition to the chamber containing the edible, moreover a lid, inserted into the container opening and sealable using a cover sheet, is added. Hence, the packaging system described in this publication also contains, in addition to the chamber containing the edible, a cavity delimited by the lid and the cover sheet, for preventing any adverse effect on the edibles accommodated in the container.

In a packaging system of the type described in the Preamble, specified in DE 76 22 067 U1, in addition to the chamber containing the edible, in the container bottom portion, a cavity is provided, which is intended for accommodating a package, such as a tea bag, a fill pack for coffee or the like.

Similar packaging systems are described in DE 199 24 871 A1, wherein, according to this publication, in the cavity in the bottom portion an aid, such as a spoon or the like may be arranged.

In a packaging system described in FR 2 701 924 A1, two chambers are provided, each of which can contain an edible. The chambers are arranged stacked and separated by an intermediate bottom.

Similar packaging systems are described in DE 94 05 246 U1, the packaging systems described in this document having two cups arranged stacked and the bottom portion of the upper cup being inserted in the upper rim area of the lower cup.

Other embodiments of packaging systems, having two chambers, each containing an edible and arranged stacked, are described in EP 0 896 930 A1 and DE 82 26 733 U1.

Lastly, a corresponding packaging system having two stacked edible-chambers interconnected by a jacket-type outer part is specified in EP 1 876 106 B1.

Although storage and transport of edibles using the packaging systems known from prior art seldom cause any problems, it has been found that, in many cases, the performance characteristics of corresponding packaging systems are inadequate.

In view of these problems in the state of the art, the invention has the objective of providing a packaging system with enhanced performance characteristics.

According to the invention, this objective is achieved by an enhancement of the packaging systems known from prior art, which is essentially characterized in that the chamber containing the edible has, starting at the upper container rim, extending in the direction of the container bottom, within the container jacket and at least over part of the axial chamber height, arranged at a radial distance from the container jacket and encircling the container axis, a chamber jacket and, preferably arranged at an axial distance above the container bottom, a chamber bottom.

Hence, the packaging system according to the invention has a dual-wall structure, in which the edible is separated from the surrounding area on the one hand via the chamber jacket and on the other hand via the container jacket and where, between chamber jacket and container jacket, a cavity is provided. This assures that insulation is provided between the edible accommodated in the chamber and the environment is provided via the cavity provided between chamber jacket and container jacket, so that the packaging system, after heating of the edible accommodated therein, for example in a microwave device, can be removed without any risk of injury.

Damages to the packaging system according to the invention from the outside do not necessarily cause leakage of the edible accommodated therein because the latter is dually protected, namely by the chamber jacket on the one hand and by the container jacket on the other hand.

The cavity formed between chamber jacket and container jacket or between chamber bottom and container bottom can be used for advertising purposes or for enhancing the outer appearance of the packaging system by creating special optical effects. In this cavity, aids and/or sales incentives, such as toys, can also be accommodated.

Hence, overall, the performance characteristics of the packaging system according to the invention are substantially enhanced by the dual-wall structure as compared to the packaging systems known from prior art.

With a view to any potentially desired thermal insulation, the provision of as large as possible a cavity for accommodating additional aids or sales incentives, as large as possible a variety in achieving desired optical properties and the like, it has proven to be particularly expedient if the radial distance between chamber jacket and container jacket and/or the axial distance between chamber bottom and container bottom, at least in portions, is 5 mm or more, in particular 10 mm or more.

In this arrangement, starting at an upper support section, encircling a chamber opening, of the chamber, in which the chamber is supported by an upper support section, encircling the container opening, of the container, the radial distance may increase in the direction of the chamber bottom.

Within the scope of the invention, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if container and chamber are designed as separate components. Within the scope of the invention, these components may be interconnected by bonding and force-fitting. It has, however, proven to be particularly expedient if these separate components are interconnected by form-fitting because in this manner, the use of adhesives that cause concerns in terms of food regulations can be avoided and in comparison to a purely force-fitted connection, a particularly reliable and durable connection is achieved.

A form-fitted connection that is particularly durable and easy to implement in terms of production technology ensues if the upper support section of the container has, starting at the container jacket, extending radially outward, preferably running approximately perpendicular to the container axis at least in portions, a set-down area that merges into a holding area, preferably in the form of a truncated cone sheath that extends in the direction of the upper container rim, the upper support section of the chamber being embodied approximately complementary to the upper support section of the container and being snappable into it.

Consequently, in this embodiment of the invention, the chamber bottom can be inserted into the container through the container opening, after full introduction of the chamber into the container, the upper support section of the chamber being snapped into the upper support section of the container. This achieves a particularly durable form-fitted connection if the axial height of the holding area is between 3 mm and 15 mm, preferably between 4 mm and 10 mm.

A connection between chamber and container can be achieved without any risk of damage to the upper support section of chamber and/or container, if, on one axial intersecting plane, the holding area and the container axis enclose an acute angle of 2° to 20°, preferably 2.5° to 9°, in particular 3° to 7°. In the case of angles of less than 2°, it becomes almost impossible to achieve a form fit. In the case of angles of more than 20°, the deformation of the upper support section required for maintaining the form-fitted connection of the container becomes so great that a risk of damage occurs.

Empirically it has been found that, in particular when using containers and chambers in the form of polystyrene plastic cups, optimization of the form-fitted connection with simultaneous assurance of freedom from destruction during manufacture can be achieved, if the ratio between holding angle and holding height is in the range of 0.8° to 0.9° per millimeter, preferably of 0.5° to 0.75° per millimeter.

Further stabilization of the connection can be achieved with simultaneous provision of a sealing rim for a closure device of the packaging system according to the invention if the upper holding area of the container and/or the chamber merges into a flange area extending radially outward and approximately in a plane running perpendicular to the container axis, the flange area of the chamber preferably being supported by the upper periphery of the flange area of the container, In this case, a lid device designed for covering the chamber opening can be sealed onto the flange area of the chamber, The lid device can for example be embodied in the form of a conventional cover plate, especially an aluminum plate,

As indicated above, within the scope of the invention, it has proven to be particularly expedient if the container and/or the chamber is embodied as a plastic surface, allowing sales promotional optical effects to be achieved, if at least the container jacket and/or the chamber jacket is at least partially made of a transparent material,

If the use of a packaging system according to the invention is intended for keeping sales promotion items in the cavity between chamber and container, it has proven to be expedient if, in the container jacket and/or the container bottom, a removal device is provided for removing contents accommodated in the cavity formed between the container and the chamber. This removal device may, for instance, be embodied in the form of a sealing sheet forming the container bottom, optionally provided with a pull tab, to close the otherwise open container bottom, Additionally or alternatively, in the container jacket and/or the container bottom, removal areas may be provided that are encircled by one or a plurality of tear lines,

As addressed above, within the scope of the invention, it has proven to be particularly expedient if container and chamber are interconnected by form-fitting because, in this manner, compliance with food regulations is particularly easy and, at the same time, a reliable connection between container and chamber is assured without causing any problems in terms of manufacturing technology. Container and chamber may be made of the same material.

The scope of the invention also contemplates, however, that container and chamber consist of different materials, the chamber being designed of high quality material that complies with the food regulations, while the container may consist of a simpler material.

As obvious from the explanation above, the chamber of a packaging system according to the invention has a lower axial height than the container.

Hereinafter, the invention is explained with reference to the drawing, to which reference is expressly made with respect to all characteristics relevant to the invention, which are not highlighted in detail in the specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a packaging system according to the invention in the assembled state and

FIG. 2 shows a detail view of section C in the sectional view according to FIG. 1.

The packaging system illustrated in the drawing has a cup designated by 10 as a whole and a chamber designated by 50 as a whole. Chamber 50 is accommodated coaxial to container 10 in the latter.

Container 10 has a container bottom 12 and, starting at it, a container wall 14, which extend in the direction of a container rim 30 encircling a container opening 40. Container wall 14 encircles a container axis and, in doing so, widens in the direction of the upper container rim 30. In a central portion, container wall 14 is embodied approximately in the form of a truncated cone sheath or dome-shaped, slightly vaulted. By its rim that faces away from container bottom 12, via a support section designated by 16 as a whole, container wall 14 merges into a flange 22 that extends approximately in a radial plane.

Chamber 15 which is accommodated in container 10 comprises a chamber bottom 52 that merges into a chamber wall 54 that extends in the direction of upper container rim 30. Chamber wall 54 encircles the container axis coaxial with container wall 14 and widens in the direction of the upper container rim 30. It is also embodied approximately in the form of a truncated cone sheath, although the angle of inclination with reference to the container axis is larger than in the case of container wall 14. By its rim that faces away from bottom 52, via a support section that is designated by 56 as a whole, chamber wall 54 merges into a sealing flange 62, which is used for seal-on of a cover plate.

As particularly obvious in the illustration of FIG. 2, by its rim that faces container wall 14, support section 16 has, extending approximately in a radial intersecting plane, a set-down area 18 which, via a curvature, merges into a holding area that tapers in the form of a truncated cone in the direction of upper container rim 30. Holding area 20 and flange 22 enclose an angle of approximately 85°, so that holding area 20 and container axis enclose an angle of approximately 5°. Upper support section 56 of chamber 50 is designed complementary to upper holding area 16 of container 10 and snapped into it. It also comprises, extending, starting at the upper rim of the chamber wall, a set-down area 58, the rim of which facing the chamber wall runs approximately in a radial intersecting plane and, via a curvature, merges into a holding area 60, which abuts the inner periphery of holding area 20. The upper rim of holding area 60 merges into sealing flange 62, which is arranged in a radial intersecting plane. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the set-down areas 16 and 56 are designed closely adjacent to each other, when chamber and container are inserted into each other. The individual components of the packaging system may be detached from each other out of the position of being inserted into each other. They are designed as two independent, approximately cup-shaped components, in particular of plastic. They may consist of polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene or the like. The height of the upper support sections 16 and 56 is, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, approximately 10 mm. Hence, the ratio between holding angle and holding height in this embodiment is approximately 0.5° per millimeter.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing, the cavity formed between container wall 14 and chamber wall 54, widens starting at the upper support section 16 or 56 in the direction of container bottom 12. Between container bottom 12 and chamber bottom 52, a cavity having a height of more than 10 mm is formed. Container 10 as a whole is designed as a transparent plastic cup so that the cavity, optionally with the edible accommodated in chamber 50, is recognizable through container wall 14.

The transparent container 10 may, at least over a portion of its height, be provided with a shrink film, which may optionally be transparent. To chamber wall 54, a jacket coating may be applied. Chamber 50 may, as a whole, be designed transparent. Chamber 50 may be made of a higher-quality plastic than container 10. The form-fitted connection between container 10 and chamber 50 may, if required, be stabilized by an adhesive.

Additionally or alternatively, container and chamber may be welded to each other in the area of their upper support sections 16 and 56, which can be done by heating the container and/or the chamber. For manufacturing the packaging system illustrated in the drawing, chamber bottom 52 is introduced into container 10 through container opening 14 until it is completely accommodated therein, during which operation upper support section 56 of chamber 50 is snapped into upper support section 60 of container 10. Thereafter, the edible can be introduced into chamber 50 and a sealing sheet can be applied to sealing flange 62 by sealing. The lower periphery of sealing flange 62 abuts the upper periphery of flange 22 of the container.

The area by container wall 14 may contain, optionally designed as a tear line, a re oval device for items accommodated in the cavity formed between chamber 10 and container 15. Container bottom 12 may be designed as detachable sealing sheet so that items accommodated in the cavity can also be removed through a bottom opening formed after removal of the sealing sheet.

The scope of the invention also contemplates designing container wall 14 colored translucent and to design chamber wall 54 also colored translucent, in order to achieve special optical effects that can be used for advertising purposes. 

1. Packaging system for edibles having a container (10), which extends, starting at a container bottom (12), via a container jacket (14) encircling a container axis and preferably widening, approximately in the form of a truncated cone sheath, in the direction of an upper container rim (30) encircling a container opening (40), and a chamber (50) containing the edible, characterized in that the chamber (50) has, starting at the upper container rim (30), extending in the direction of container bottom (12), within the container jacket (14) and at least over part of the axial chamber height, arranged at a radial distance from the container jacket (14) and encircling the container axis, a chamber jacket (54) and, preferably arranged at an axial distance above the container bottom (12), a chamber bottom (52).
 2. Packaging system according to claim 1, characterized in that the radial distance and/or the axial distance, at least in portions, is at least 5 mm or more, especially 10 mm or more.
 3. Packaging system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, starting at an upper support section (56) of the chamber encircling a chamber opening (40), in which the chamber (50) is supported by an upper support section (16) of the container (10) encircling the container opening (40), the radial distance increases in the direction of chamber bottom (52).
 4. Packaging system according to claim 3, characterized in that the upper support section (16) of the container (10), has, starting at the container jacket (14), extending radially outward and preferably running approximately perpendicular to the container axis at least in portions, a set-down area (18) that merges into a holding area (20) preferably tapered in the form of a truncated cone sheath extending in the direction of the upper container rim, the upper support section (56) of the chamber (50) being embodied approximately complementary to the upper support section (16) of the container (10) and being snappable into it.
 5. Packaging system according to claim 4, characterized in that the axial height of the holding area (16, 56) is between 3 mm and 15 mm, preferably between 4 mm and 10 mm.
 6. Packaging system according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, in an axial intersecting plane, the holding area (20, 60) and the container axis enclose a holding angle 2° to 20°, preferably 3° to 7°.
 7. Packaging system according one of the claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the ratio between holding angle and holding height is in the range of 0.3° to 0.9° per millimeter, preferably 0.5° to 0.75° per millimeter.
 8. Packaging system according to one of the claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the upper holding area (20, 60) of the container (10) and/or the chamber (50) merges into a flange area (22, 62) extending radially outward and approximately in a plane running perpendicular to the container plane, the flange area (62) of the chamber (50) preferably being supported by the upper periphery of the flange area (22) of the container (10).
 9. Packaging system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a lid device designed for covering the chamber opening (4)) and preferably sealable onto the flange area (62) of the chamber (50).
 10. Packaging system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (10) and/or the chamber (50) is designed as a plastic cup.
 11. Packaging system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the container jacket (14) and/or the chamber jacket (54) is at least partially made of a transparent material.
 12. Packaging system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a removal opening formed in the container jacket and/or the container bottom for removing contents accommodated in the cavity formed between container and chamber.
 13. Packaging system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (10) and the chamber (50) are interconnected by form-fitting.
 14. Packaging system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (10) and the chamber (50) consist of different or like materials.
 15. Packaging system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axial height of the chamber (50) is less than the axial height of the container (10). 